Shop

You are here

Remembering a painful loss at Oakmont

By

OAKMONT, Pa. – Juli Inkster lost in a playoff to Patty Sheehan when the U.S. Women’s Open was played at Oakmont back in 1992.

A controversial ruling helped Sheehan make up two shots over the last two holes to force the playoff.

After making birdie at the 17th in the final round to draw within a shot following a rain delay, Sheehan pushed her drive right in the wet rough and onto a side hill lie. She asked for a ruling because of casual water. She won a drop with the nearest point of relief in the fairway and knocked her approach to 10 feet and made the birdie putt.

Inkster was asked Wednesday if she had finally gotten over that ruling.

“Well, no,” Inkster cracked. “It’s the worst ruling in the history of golf . . . It is what it is. She made a great shot after that and made a great putt.”

Article Tags:

Mell, a senior writer, is a 30-year veteran and covers the PGA and LPGA tours for Golf Channel.